Cycloaddition Reactions of Nitrile Oxides with Alkenes

Photo-cycloaddition reactions of vinyldiazo compounds

Heterocyclic rings are important structural scaffolds encountered in both natural and synthetic compounds, and their biological activity often depends on these motifs. They are predominantly accessible via cycloaddition reactions, realized by either thermal, photochemical, or catalytic means. Various starting materials are utilized for this purpose, and, among them, diazo compounds are often encountered, especially vinyldiazo compounds that give access to donor-acceptor cyclopropenes which engage in [2+n] cycloaddition reactions. Herein, we describe the development of photochemical processes that produce diverse heterocyclic scaffolds from multisubstituted oximidovinyldiazo compounds. High chemoselectivity, good functional group tolerance, and excellent scalability characterize this methodology, thus predisposing it for broader applications. Experimental and computational studies reveal that under light irradiation these diazo reagents selectively transform into cyclopropenes which engage in cycloaddition reactions with various dipoles, while under thermal conditions the formation of pyrazole from vinyldiazo compounds is favored.

Diastereoselective synthesis of tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-d]oxadiazoles from functionalized Δ1-pyrrolines and in situ generated nitrile oxides

Tetrahydropyrrolo[1,2-d]oxadiazoles have been synthesized in good-to-excellent yields via the cycloaddition of nitrile oxides (in situ generated from aldoximes) to readily accessible functionalized Δ¹-pyrrolines. The reaction proceeds smoothly at room temperature in a two-phase system in the presence of sodium hypochloride as an oxidant to diastereoselectively afford pharmaceutically prospective 1,2,4-oxadiazolines fused with a five-membered ring. The reaction tolerates a broad range of substrates, including those with oxidant-sensitive functional groups and competitive reaction sites.

Catalyst-Free Formation of Nitrile Oxides and Their Further Transformations to Diverse Heterocycles

The formation of nitrile oxides with diazocarbonyl compounds by nitrosyl transfer from tert-butyl nitrite under mild conditions and without the use of a catalyst or an additive is reported. This transformation is broadly applicable to the synthesis of furoxans by dimerization and isoxazoles and isoxazolines by cycloaddition. This methodology is also applied for the millimole-scale synthesis of two biologically active compounds. The formation of the nitrile oxide from a diazoacetamide is stable and confirmed experimentally.

Understanding the molecular mechanism of the stereoselective conversion of N-trialkylsilyloxy nitronates into bicyclic isoxazoline derivatives

The conversion of N-trialkylsilyloxy nitronates into bicyclic isoxazoline derivatives has been explored using the density functional theory method within the context of molecular electron density theory at the ωB97XD(PCM)/6-311G(d,p) level.

In Situ Generation of Nitrile Oxides from NaCl-Oxone Oxidation of Various Aldoximes and Their 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition

Reported is a new green protocol for the efficient in situ generation of nitrile oxides through NaCl/Oxone oxidation of aldoximes and their dipolar cycloaddition. The key feature is the use of a green chemistry approach to address the substrate scope of aldoximes: broad scope (aliphatic, aromatic, and alkenyl aldoximes) without production of organic byproducts derived from oxidant and/or catalyst. Importantly, NaCl/Oxone-promoted three-component cycloaddition of aldehyde, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, and alkene was demonstrated to be competent (63-81%).

A DFT study on the effect of functional groups on the formation kinetics of 1,2,3-triazolo-1,4-benzoxazine via intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition

A theoretical study of the kinetics and mechanism of the intramolecular cycloaddition of 1,2,3-triazolo-1,4-benzoxazine was performed using DFT methods at the B3LYP level of theory with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set at 298.15 K and 310.15 K. Equilibrium molecular geometries and harmonic vibrational frequencies of the reactant, transition state and product were calculated. The solvent effect on the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the reaction were investigated. The calculated rate constants and activation thermodynamic parameters showed good agreement with experimental results. These calculations indicated that the reaction proceeds through a synchronous concerted mechanism.

Aryl nitrile oxide cycloaddition reactions in the presence of pinacol boronic acid ester

An aryl substrate with dual functionality consisting of a nitrile oxide and a pinacolyl boronate ester was prepared by mild hypervalent iodine oxidation (diacetoxyiodobenzene) of the corresponding aldoxime, without decomposition of the boronate functionality. The nitrile oxide was trapped in situ with a variety of dipolarophiles to yield aryl isoxazolines with the boronate ester function intact and available for subsequent reaction.

Spiroheterocycles via Regioselective Cycloaddition Reactions of Nitrile Oxides with 5-Methylene-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-ones

Substituted 5-methylene-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-ones underwent a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with nitrile oxides to give the corresponding spiro heterocycles. Critical to this reaction was the development of a biphasic system for base-induced dehydrohalogenation of hydroximoyl chlorides, to give nitrile oxides, in the presence of a base-sensitive dipolarophile. A substituted N-tolyl 5-methylene-1H-pyrrol-2(5H)-one exhibited atropisomerism, which in turn led to a 4:1 facial selectivity during cycloaddition.

Regioselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions of 4-Methylene-2-oxazolidinones with Benzonitrile Oxide

Substituted 4-methylene-2-oxazolidinones were prepared in two steps by cyclizing O-propargyl carbamates, which in turn were prepared from propargyl alcohols and phenyl isocyanate. The 4-methylene-2-oxazolidinones underwent a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction with benzonitrile oxide to give the corresponding spiro heterocycles. Where the substitution pattern on the oxazolidinone engendered facial asymmetry, the cycloadditon reaction proceeded with 5:1 selectivity for the less hindered face of the dipolarophile.

Reversal of Regioselectivity and Enhancement of Rates of Nitrile Oxide Cycloadditions through Transient Attachment of Dipolarophiles to Cyclodextrins

The reactions of nitrile oxides with monosubstituted dipolarophiles, such as propiolamide, typically afford proportionally 80 % or more of the 3,5-disubstituted cycloadducts. By contrast, the reactions of 6(A)-deoxy-6(A)-propynamido-beta-cyclodextrin with 4-tert-butylbenzonitrile oxide and 4-phenylbenzonitrile oxide afford >90 % and approximately 85 % of the corresponding 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoles, respectively. As well as reversing the regioselectivity, the cyclodextrin increases the rates of these cycloadditions. The extent of the acceleration is up to more than three orders of magnitude for the production of the cycloadduct preferred by the cyclodextrin, but even the rate of reaction to give the less favored regioisomer is increased. With 6(A)-deoxy-6(A)-propynamido-beta-cyclodextrin, the cycloadducts are not easily separated from the cyclodextrin, as the amide bond is not readily cleaved. In comparison, the regioselectivity of the cycloadditions of 4-tert-butylbenzonitrile oxide with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and crotonic acid is also altered by formation of the corresponding cyclodextrin esters, by factors of 500, >10, and >100, respectively. The rates of cycloaddition are also increased by up to 475 times, and in these cases the products of cycloaddition are readily released from the cyclodextrin through ester hydrolysis. Incorporating these processes into a reaction cycle, acylation of beta-cyclodextrin with p-nitrophenyl acrylate and subsequent treatment first with 4-tert-butylbenzonitrile oxide and then with base, the latter to catalyze ester hydrolysis and regenerate the beta-cyclodextrin, affords proportionally fivefold more of the 3,4-disubstituted isoxazoline than is produced directly from acrylic acid.

4-Alkoxycarbonyl- and Aminocarbonyl-Substituted Isoxazoles as Masked Acrylates and Acrylamides in the Asymmetric Synthesis of Δ2-Isoxazolines

4-Alkoxycarbonyl and aminocarbonyl-substituted isoxazoles undergo conjugate reduction to give delta2-isoxazolines on treatment with sodium borohydride and sodium trifluoroacetoxyborohydride, respectively. They are also alkylated at C5 through sonication with secondary and tertiary alkyl iodides in the presence of zinc dust and copper(I) iodide. These reactions are analogous to those observed with acrylates and acrylamides. The behavior is characteristic of the 4-substituted isoxazoles but not the 5-substituted regioisomers. The reductions of 4,5-disubstituted isoxazoles and the C5 alkylations of 4-substituted isoxazoles generally afford trans-4,5-disubstituted isoxazolines. Incorporating chiral auxiliaries into the alkoxycarbonyl group maintains this relative stereoselectivity. It does not provide significant levels of asymmetric induction in the reductions, but the alkylations occur with good levels of stereocontrol at both C4 and C5. Because both enantiomers of the auxiliaries are available, this provides access to either enantiomer of the products, in 93 to > or = 98% de. The methodology, therefore, provides a complementary approach to nitrile oxide cycloadditions to alkenes for the asymmetric synthesis of delta2-isoxazolines.

Nitrile Oxide Cycloaddition Chemistry Using Benzotriazole as a Steric Auxiliary

The relatively hindered 2,2-bis(benzotriazol-1-yl)acetonitrile oxide was prepared in situ from the precursor hydroximinoyl chloride, and was allowed to react with dipolarophiles to give rise to several isoxazoles. The benzotriazole substituents acted as steric auxiliaries to prevent unwanted dimerization of the nitrile oxide to the furoxan by-product.

A novel, general method for the synthesis of nitrile oxides: dehydration of O-silylated hydroxamic acids

[reaction: see text] O-Silylated hydroxamic acids serve as stable, readily accessible, crystalline precursors to nitrile oxides when treated with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride and triethylamine. Under these mild conditions in the presence of olefins O-silylated hydroxamic acids afford isoxazoline cycloadducts. This procedure represents a novel, general method for the one-step generation of nitrile oxides, which complements existing protocols.